Sunday 10 April 2022

Respect to the legends that are Simple Minds!


I went to see Simple Minds (a band who I have always loved) in Leeds last night and they were superb.

This was one of the highlights and although not one of their most famous tracks it is definitely one of their best. This is from 1981 and was totally ground-breaking at the time mixing synths and guitar. 

It was also huge in many UK clubs in the late 80's and was a big fave at Shoom and other quality acid house clubs and parties.

Simple Minds - Theme For Great Cities

Due to it being such a fantastic track it was also copied and sampled many times and many of these new remakes and remixes were also huge club tracks also worthy of PCC status.

Probably the best and the most widely played was the great version from Corporation of One from 1988, especially the Oppy mix which contains all the great Tony Montana samples from Scarface and elements from Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.

Corporation Of One - Real Life 

(Oppy Mix)

The original mix of this track is also superb and doesn't contain all the samples and snippets and was probably the most widely played out in clubs.


Corporation Of One - Real Life 

(Original Mix)

Another credible version which was released in 2001 was the Joey Negro influenced Raven Maize version which provides a bit of a heavier club beat/feel, and is very much an updated copy of the original Simple Minds version with the Real Life Queen vocal sample added. Still a great track though.


Raven Maize - The Real Life 

(Club Mix)

Finally, to finish off the sequence their is also a very credible remix by Moby which is pretty much the Simple Minds version, but with a updated 2000s Depeche Mode-esque synth feel.


Simple Minds - Theme For Great Cities 2012 

(Moby Remix)

All in all. all are great tracks in their own right, but all must pay homage, respect and their dues to the original brilliance to Simple Minds who over 40 years ago (1981) created a true ground-breaking masterpiece that it is still revered and highly regarded to this day by the club scene.

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